Earth Hour 2018: Lights out across UAE as Earth Hour is marked

Two women light candles after the building lights were switched off for the Earth Hour environmental campaign in Dubai on March 24, 2018.
Earth Hour, which started in Australia in 2007, is set to be observed by millions of supporters in 187 countries, who will turn off their lights at 8.30pm local time in what organisers describe as the world's "largest grassroots movement for climate change". / AFP PHOTO / Giuseppe CACACE

This combination of pictures created on March 24, 2018 shows the Burj Khalifa skyscraper lit up and with the lights turned off during the earth hour environmental campaign in Dubai on March 24, 2018.
Earth Hour, which started in Australia in 2007, is set to be observed by millions of supporters in 187 countries, who will turn off their lights at 8.30pm local time in what organisers describe as the world's "largest grassroots movement for climate change". / AFP PHOTO / Giuseppe CACACE

Dubai, March 24, 2018: Dubai residents participate in the Earth Hour Walk at the Marasi promenade in Dubai. Satish Kumar for the National

View of Burj Khalifa just before the Earth Hour Walk at the Marasi promenade in Dubai.

Dubai, March 24, 2018: Emiratii women lights the candles during the Earth Hour Walk at the Marasi promenade in Dubai. Satish Kumar for the National

Dubai, March 24, 2018: Emiratis participate in the Earth Hour Walk at the Marasi promenade in Dubai. Satish Kumar for the National

Dubai, March 24, 2018: Dubai residents participate during the Earth Hour Walk at the Marasi promenade in Dubai. Satish Kumar for the National

Dubai, March 24, 2018: Dubai residents participate in the Earth Hour Walk at the Marasi promenade in Dubai. Satish Kumar for the National

A man and two children light candles after the building lights were switched off for the Earth Hour environmental campaign in Dubai on March 24, 2018.
Earth Hour, which started in Australia in 2007, is set to be observed by millions of supporters in 187 countries, who will turn off their lights at 8.30pm local time in what organisers describe as the world's "largest grassroots movement for climate change". / AFP PHOTO / Giuseppe CACACE

People light candles after the building lights were switched off for the Earth Hour environmental campaign in Dubai on March 24, 2018.
Earth Hour, which started in Australia in 2007, is set to be observed by millions of supporters in 187 countries, who will turn off their lights at 8.30pm local time in what organisers describe as the world's "largest grassroots movement for climate change". / AFP PHOTO / Giuseppe CACACE

The UAE joined countries all over the world in marking Earth Hour on Saturday evening by switching off thousands of lights.

Between 8.30pm and 9.30pm, thousands of homes, businesses and government departments switched off their lights to raise awareness of the planet’s environmental degradation.

The Roads and Transport Authority, RTA switched off 1,433 street lights across the UAE, while landmarks across the Emirates went dark for one hour.

In Abu Dhabi, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque was one of the major land marks that turned its lights off, while in Dubai, the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building was also plunged into darkness.

Emirates Global Aluminium said it had saved over 70,000 kilowatt hours of electricity in the past year through weekly observance of Earth Hour.

Carrefour UAE also participated by switching off 50 per cent of light in its 28 stores nationwide.

Also participating were employees from Expo 2020 Dubai who assembled 210 solar-powered lights from Beacon of Hope UAE, as were members of Abu Dhabi police led by Major General Mohammed Khalfan Al Rumaithi.

Speaking before the switch-off, Laila Mostafa Abdullatif, director-general of EWS-WWF said this year's Earth Hour was especially important due to it coinciding with the Year of Sheikh Zayed. “Earth Hour highlights the power of each individual, and what we can achieve if we do it together. With 2018 being the Year of Sheikh Zayed, we invite everyone to join the movement, honour our Founding Father’s vision, and help us make a difference. The late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan was a visionary in terms of sustainable development. He understood the power of the human spirit and united our nation”.